PhantomNick

So I'm catching up on the explosion of replies in this thread, ready to post my thoughts on Leviathan, when I came across Steve's post above. I echo basically everything he said. Logo and name? Bad-a$$! B&M building a Giga? LOVE it! Do I want to ride this thing? Abso-freaking-lutely!! Putting the fact that it is fairly similar to Behemoth aside, I really like the layout. Giant drop, speed, turns/overbanks, and airtime hills....works for me! Truth is, I wouldn't consider myself an "experienced" (to borrow Elissa's term) coaster enthusiast by any stretch, considering I've been on a mere 137 of them so far....but I have liked every B&M hyper I have been on - a lot. So seeing them go for broke and enter the Giga market has me stoked for not only this coaster, but their future ones as well. As for the discussion on Leviathan vs. Behemoth, I don't think it is "complaining" (as some have called it) at all. It's a valid discussion to try and figure out the admitted head-scratcher of a move by CF to plop this bad boy into the same park that built a 230-foot version of practically the same coaster 4 years ago. I was thinking about it, and I guess in simplest terms, odd or not, the park decided to super-size a coaster that was incredibly well-received and wildly popular, essentially "going for broke" on back to back coaster installations. And you know what....I say why not? If the long term goal of the park generating increased attendance and revenue off of this new attraction is reached, then from their perspective that's all that really matters. A perplexing decision? Yeah, sure. But the wrong decision for the park? I'm not so sure that's the case at all. And shoot, I'm sure many parks would love the thought of having both a B&M Hyper and B&M Giga in their park! All I know is I'm certainly happy that I've got a valid passport!

Awesome trip report so far Steve! I was diggin' the NYC portion of your last update....such a cool city. And the pizza tour looks amazing! Great pics as always. I look forward to reading about your beer chugging conquest later in the trip!!

I would say this pretty much sums up what was running through my mind when I saw those latest pictures! I am awe-struck at the notion of a B&M coaster surpassing 300 feet! I am a pretty huge fan of their coasters, so I am eager to see the announcement tomorrow morning. And let me join the group that loves the name....I think it sounds totally bad-a$$!! As for the whole "record breaking" thing, I just have a hunch that they're going for tallest "traditional" roller coaster in the world. Can't wait to see the layout of this bad boy!!

Well, I'm thrilled to report that my wife and I are heading down to Kings Dominion this weekend! We'll be visiting the park on Saturday and Sunday. I know many have posted that it can get nuts on a summer Saturday, but this is really the only time that works with our work schedules. That's why we figured it'd be best to do a package deal and go to the park 2 days. Even if Saturday is slammed, we should still be able to get on what we want over 2 days (or at least that's what we hope! ) I cannot get over how pumped I am to ride Intimidator 305! I literally have not been this excited to ride a "new to me" coaster since El Toro back in 2006. I've already checked out the Park Guide on here and have a good plan of attack in mind, especially for Sunday. Saturday we will have to play by ear as we probably won't get there until about 1 or 2. Since there are many locals to the park on here, do you guys have any tips or suggestions for us? Feel free to post them! Also, my wife likes riding the coasters, but if it's anything too rough she tends to get headaches that can put her out of commission for hours. Any thoughts on what coasters she should truly avoid? I was already thinking I should ride solo on Shockwave, Anaconda, and Hurler....how are the other 2 woodies? Thanks in advance for any tips, advice, or answers! Most of all I'm thrilled to be able to head down to one last new park this season and ride one of the best looking coasters I've seen in a long time!

Well, that "outside chance" has become a certainty.....Kings Dominion, here we come!! We're headed there this weekend, and will visit the park on Saturday and Sunday. I haven't been this excited to try out a new (for me) coaster since El Toro! Looks like the weather is shaping up to be pretty great too.

Why would it be dangerous? You could easily have some airtime hills and turns first to bleed off some speed, then do a loop.

Exterminator (showin' the home park some love!)

My wife and I saw the touring Mary Poppins in January when it came to Pittsburgh, and we thought it was a lot of fun! In fact, we've seen 3 Disney musicals now, and they were all great fun. In fact, Lion King was actually outstanding.....the opening scene was very moving! About a month and a half before we go see Wicked again!! Time number 4 for me!

I have to agree.....Fooz, that's an outstanding rendering! It's kinda sad that his rendering is better than anything Hershey themselves released for the actual announcement!!

Sky Rocket at Kennywood on Sunday to close out a blast of a day at KennyKon! (Didn't stick around for evening ERT on Thunderbolt)

Great topic! Hmmm, there are lots of coasters I really want to ride, but if I were to truly create a "ride bucket list", it would look like this (in no particular order): 1. Bizarro (SFNE) 2. Boulder Dash 3. An Intamin Mega-Lite 4. Balder/Colossos/T-Express (preferably all of the above!) 5. Intimidator 305 6. New Texas Giant 7. X2 8. Expedition GeForce 9. Montu 10. Formula Rossa As for parks on my bucket list, here's 5 that top my list: 1. Six Flags Magic Mountain 2. Walt Disney World 3. Busch Gardens Tampa 4. Dollywood 5. Six Flags over Texas And as a bonus, if I had to pick ONE park from abroad to visit (since the likelihood of me making it to overseas parks is, for now, fairly slim), it would be the Happy Valley in China that has Fireball, a Dive Machine, and a Mega-Lite! (followed closely by Mirabilandia!)

I dunno, the locals have said how much SFA needs a new coaster, but Iron Wolf? Really? I don't understand that one at all, considering how old it is already. When I rode it during my one trip to Six Flags Great America, it wasn't a terrible coaster, but it certainly wasn't good either. For me it was easily the weakest coaster in their lineup. Plus, you'd think it will only get rougher as the years pass by, right? Given the size of the place, I would think something like a Eurofighter, or even a spinning coaster, would be an ideal fit. I'll be keeping an eye on this to see how it all plays out.

That video was awesome!! Looks like you guys are having an amazing time! And when I saw on Facebook that you had pitch black nighttime ERT on the best wooden coaster in the world, I think I drooled a little.....then cried a little since I wasn't there! Those rides on El Toro had to be EPIC!!!

One word - AWESOME!! I'm incredibly stoked about this addition to the park! I honestly don't get some of the complaining, but I guess that's cause my home park added a new coaster in 1999, incredibly reprofiled one in 2001, then didn't build another new coaster until last year! In other words, be HAPPY that Hershey is adding pretty great coasters (the last 3 now from Intamin) at an every 4 years clip. And to me, what's not to like?!? 200-foot drop? Check. 85 degree first drop? Check. Several airtime hills? Check. Some low twists and turns? Got that too. Fastest coaster in the park now, at 75 mph? Yup. Oh yeah, and we'll also throw in floorless seats and regular floored ones! Count me in as someone who is not only eager to ride, but also thinks that a trip to Hersheypark next year just became a definite!

I'm very intrigued by this project, and very curious what Cedar Fair has in mind as the follow-up to Behemoth. Looks like a rather sizable construction area from what the locals have described/shown. Hmmmm.....

Likely Kennywood, but there's an outside chance that we may do an impromptu trip to Kings Dominion later in the month..... Intimidator 305 is calling to me!!

Looks like a GREAT addition to the water park, and should help spread the people out a bit between the 2 water coasters. I'm typically not much of a water park guy, but Wildebeest and now Mammoth have me thinking that I might want to check these bad boys out! The park really seems to have its finger on the pulse of what guests there like and want. And to any who are moaning and depressed that a steel coaster wasn't announced or hasn't been added yet, I give you this gem of a quote, straight from Dan Koch himself: Link to article - above quote towards the bottom They know what they're doing folks....and it sounds like they don't want to just plop any old steel coaster in. When they do add it, it is going to be something memorable that is the right fit for the park. Patience is our friend!

If in fact the layout is like that sketch, I may just pass out with excitement!! It looks like a megalite-type layout, only with a bigger first hill....and that would be fantastic!! I haven't followed along with the viral campaign, but I still must say that the level of detail they are pouring into it is very impressive. I'm definitely getting more and more pumped for the announcement!

^ Soooo dirty, and yet soooo right! Those fries, to me, blow any other park's (that I've been to) completely out of the water!! Thanks for posting this great trip report! Your pics were awesome, and I always enjoy reading about folks' trips into my neck of the woods. I truly do love Kennywood, and not just because it's my home park. I just love the assortment and quality of the different rides and coasters there. And woohoo for some Sky Rocket love!! I think that little coaster kicks some serious arse! I'm amazed at the quality of coaster the park and Premier fit into that relatively small footprint. The airtime on it is stellar too, especially on the first hill and the zero-g roll!

I'm really enjoying this trip report! I've always thought that Worlds of Fun looks like a fun park. There's similarities there to Dorney Park, which for me is a good thing, as I like Dorney a lot. Oh yeah, and great photos as well!

During my last visit to the park a couple weeks back I rode Pitt Fall, and was reminded why that thing is my favorite drop tower that I've ridden so far. I do understand the reasoning for putting it up for sale, and don't blame the park one bit for doing so. It's just a little sad to me, as that has been one of the most recognizable symbols of Kennywood (along with the Phantom) since 1997. There's nothing like crossing the Rankin Bridge and glancing to the left and seeing Phantom's lift and the towering Pitt Fall. I plan on riding it some more this season, in case this is in fact its last. Whenever it does leave, it will be missed! I'm definitely curious what replacement the park has in mind if/when it does sell. Also curious what some TPR opinions will be of Sky Rocket when the Road to Cedar Point trip rolls through Kennywood.

Drop Towers (not the Space Shots) still make me uneasy.....that anticipation of the drop while perched at the top still gets me every time! And one of the best/worst of those for me is Pitt Fall at Kennywood. 2 of the 4 cars look out over the huge ravine, so the 250 feet in the air you are feels like almost 400!! Also, when I rode X-Scream on the Stratosphere, that scared the hell out of me! There's something in my head that wails in alarm at the notion of flying off the edge of a 900-foot building! Still was tons of fun though!

Me and my stupid living in Pennsylvania! That's really cool that the park is offering this. I have always wanted to check out this park, as it looks like one of the gems of the Six Flags chain.

Not gonna lie, this made me almost spit out my water! I do hope the park does something with SoB. When we visited the park, despite knowing how crap a ride it was, I was still intrigued by it. I realize for the cost that CF wouldn't consider the NTAG treatment, but man, I could only imagine what that ride could turn into if they did!

Lightning Racer